The evolution of fixed and mobile networks to UMTS

The paper challenges the views of those within the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) field and related disciplines and includes comments in order to develop a common understanding as to what UMTS is and what is needed to get there. It provides an explanation of UMTS, its main services and capability requirements. It then describes an overall view of the technology steps needed from a variety of contemporary network technologies to support these identified UMTS requirements. Finally it highlights how these technological stages of the approaches inter-relate, enabling a clearer global path towards the common goal of UMTS